VMF-312 "Day's Knights" and "Checkerboards"

[walika]

VMF-312 "Day's Knights" and "Checkerboards"

Established at Parris Island on June 1, 1943

Deployments:
Hawaii and Admiralties | February 1944 to April 1945 (F4U-1)
Okinawa and Ie Shima | April to September 1945 (FG-1D)

 

Aircraft: F4U-1D; FG-1D

 

(Because the demand for the Chance Vought Corsair exceeded the company's production capability, two other manufacturers, Goodyear and Brewster, were subcontracted to build the Corsair. The Goodyear version was designated the FG-1 and the Brewster model was designated the F3A-1.)

 

Nickname: Day's Knights, changed to Checkerboard Squadron

 

Aerial Combat Record: 60.5 victories; 2 aces

 

Artist: MSgt. James R. Wroble

Date of Insignia: 1943

Authorization: HQMC

 

 

Master Sergeant James R. Wroble created the squadron insignia, depicting a bulldog with wings and a flying helmet carrying six .50 caliber machineguns, the same armament in which the F4U Corsair employed. The distinctive white on navy blue "checkerboard" design painted on the cowling and rudder of squadron aircraft was created by First Lieutenant John J. E. Holden.

 

 

Embroidered on twill.

 

 

 

TOP SCORERS
Capt H.J. Valentine 6
1Lt William Farrell 5
1Lt T. W. Hardy 3
Capt D. H. Johnson 3

"Day's Knights" were indeed the product of Richard Day, who perhaps set a record in the US Marine Corps by establishing and leading the same squadron for almost two years. Probably no other Marine combat fighter squadron had only two COs during the war.

The "Knights" took the long way to combat. Receiving F4Us in August 1943, they left the US in February 1944 and remained in Hawaii for three months further training. Then the flight and ground echelons proceeded independently to Ponam Island, in the Admiralties, awaiting Operation Iceberg, the invasion of Okinawa. Day took the squadron ashore on April 6, 1945, 14 months after sailing from San Diego. Serving under MAG-33, the unit was based at muddy Kadena for much of the Ryukyus campaign.

 

Marine Fighting Squadron 312 (VMF-312) was commissioned at Page Field, Parris Island, South Carolina on June 1st 1943. Most of the original officers of the 312 were brought over from VMF-311 or Headquarters Squadron 31, which was based at Cherry Point, North Carolina. The first aircraft flown by VMF-312 was the SNJ-4 Texan, but by the end of August 1943 the squadron had transitioned to the Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair and received a large influx of pilots fresh from pre-operational training.

During the intense training that continued until the end of 1943, operational accidents killed four squadron Marines and injured another. In early January of 1944, the squadron moved to NAS North Island, San Diego where pilots went through refresher courses in recognition, survival data, and chemical warfare. All Ground personnel requalified with the M-1 and the pilots qualified with the M-1, Carbine and pistol. On the 28th of February, VMF-312 boarded the USS Hornet (CV-12) and arrived in Pearl Harbor on March 4th where they took up residence at Ewa, the Marine Corps Air Station. Training continued at Ewa through June of 1944. During that time aircraft accidents took a heavy toll on the squadron.

On the 25th of June 1944, VMF-312 boarded the carrier USS Nassau and began the voyage to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, an island group in the South Pacific Ocean due east from northern Australia. The squadron and 24 new Goodyear built Corsairs (FG-1's) "U-birds" took up residence at Turtle Bay Airstrip. The end of August brought all planes and pilots ready for combat. While the flight echelon moved to Ponam Island for CAP and escort missions, the Rear echelon accepted 24 F4U-1Ds in October. The squadron was reunited in December at Luganville Airfield on Espiritu Santo where rocket launchers were fitted under either wing of the Corsairs. By New Years of 1945, VMF-312 had grown to 38 pilots, 11 ground officers, a medical officer, 248 enlisted Marines, and had put in over 14,538 flight hours. In March of 1945 VMF-312 was moved to Okinawa.

 

The "Knights" first combat occurred on the afternoon of April 12 when three pilots splashed seven rookie suicide "Zekes", three falling to Capt Dan Johnson. A "Betty" went down that evening. "RadCAPs" over radar picket destroyers were a common feature of the Okinawa kamikaze blitz, with VMF-312 typically logging three to five victories daily. However, Day was killed by AA fire on May 14. After an interim CO, Maj Frank Cole permanently took over on the 24th. The new skipper's tenure began spectacularly - the next day his pilots claimed 16 kills 60 miles north of base. Capt Herb Valentine downed five fighters while lLt Bill Farrell contributed 4.S confirmed and a probable. Another major kamikaze effort on April 6 produced 10.5 kills as four pilots each recorded 1.5 victories.

One of the most-reported episodes of the campaign involved two aggressive VMF-312 aviators. On May 1O the division, led by Capt Ken Reusser, sighted a high-flying Ki-45 "Nick" reconnaissance aircraft at an estimated 25,000ft and climbing. The four Corsairs began the chase, with two peaking below 36,000ft. Reusser and lLt Bob Klingman, having fired off much of their ammunition to lighten the load, continued to an incredible 36,000 ft.

Reusser expended his ammunition in damaging the twin-engined snooper, then Klingman closed in. Although his guns had frozen, and the Japanese gunner was still able to shoot, the Marine pressed home the attack. In three passes he used his 13ft diameter propeller to chop large sections from the Kawasaki's airframe, which came unglued. Klingman managed a dead-stick landing at base, missing part of his prop and with his airframe partly riddled. that delivered him to the amphibious fleet flagship USS Eldorado (AGC-11), where he dined with Vice Adm Richmond K. Turner.

The squadron's shooting ended on May 22 with four more victories, all fighters. Under Day and Frank Cole VMF-312 ran up 60.5 victories at Okinawa, led by Valentine with six kills and Farrell with five. Capt Paul Brown became the last fatality, his F4U exploding from AA fire over Japan on July 12. In all, the "Knights" lost 30 aircraft and at least ninepilots killed or missing. The squadron was based at Awase on Okinawa's east coast at war's end.

 

Wartime COs
Maj. R. M. Day 1 Jun 1943 (KIA 14 May 1945)
Maj. F. Cole 25 May 1945

 

 

F4U-1D Corsair of VMF-312 at Kadena Airfield on Okinawa April 9,1945.

 

 

Vought-F4U 1D Corsair VMF-312 - 1Lt Merritt O. Chance over Espirtu Santo New Hebrides Oct 1944

 

 

Sources

Millstein, Jeff. U. S. Marine Corps Aviation Unit Insignia 1941-1946.

Sambito, William J. A History of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312.

Tillman, Barrett. U. S. Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War II.

[crash3730]

Anyone with any information on VMF 312, especially the enlisted men, can you please contact me?